Frank Pallone: “I thank Mr. McGovern for bringing this rule up today, and I rise in support of the rule to bring up the Armenian…”

“I thank Mr. McGovern for bringing this rule up today, and I rise in support of the rule to bring up the Armenian genocide resolution. As Judy Chu said--and I just came back from Armenia at the same time--we were at the genocide memorial in Yerevan. I was actually there a few years ago, on the 100th anniversary of the genocide, with our two Armenian Members of Congress, Anna Eshoo and Jackie Speier. I have to say, it was unfortunate for us. We were proud to be there for the 100th commemoration, but we still were very upset over the fact that the United States had not recognized the Armenian genocide in recent years. And, of course, this has been a goal of the Armenia caucus and the Armenia diaspora for over 30 years that this day, this historic day, would finally occur. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, who has made this day possible. This resolution is important. It commemorates the victims of the Armenian genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks over 104 years after it took place. For too long, Congress has failed to recognize the indisputable fact that the Ottoman Turks perpetrated the first genocide of the 20th century. This crime against humanity would serve as the blueprint for other genocides in the Nazi concentration camps and massacres in Poland, Germany, and eastern Europe and, more recently, in Bosnia and Rwanda.…”